Brexiteer and cat lover Ann Widdecombe has taken a swipe at Sir Keir Starmer after he unveiled the family’s cute new kitten at Downing Street. The Prime Minister’s move deflected attention from the pressure he is currently under.
Sir Keir Starmer with Prince, his new kitten – but is the moggy being used as a distraction? (Image: Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street)
The Siberian, named Prince, was pictured, along with the PM, on his desk in a photograph issued by Downing Street last night.
However, Ms Widdecombe – who has mentioned her own moggy, Aloysius, in her weekly column in The Daily Express, sought to remind Sir Keir of the job in hand, not least his move to strip an estimated 10 million pensioners of their right to claim the £300 winter fuel payment.
The ex-Tory MP and Brexit Party MP, who attended Reform UK’s annual conference in Blackpool last week, told Express.co.uk: “Sweet kitten, but I hope he is kinder to it than he is to the old folks.”
Sir Keir is also facing scrutiny over taking hospitality and freebies, and, along with deputy Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves, has said he will no longer accept donations of free clothes – although he appears to be digging his heels in over tickets to see Arsenal at the Emirates stadium.
Ann Widdecombe, pictured at Reform UK’s annual conference, is a cat lover herself (Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)
Speaking yesterday, he revealed that he had negotiated the purchase of the feline despite the family’s initial request for a German Shepherd when they moved into Downing Street.
Siberian cats are known for their long, fluffy coats and are also hypoallergenic, making them a good choice for anyone with cat allergies.
Speaking to Matt Chorley on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sir Keir acknowledged that installing a cat flap in the bomb-proof door of his Downing Street flat has “proven a bit tricky”.
During the election campaign, Sir Keir had revealed that his children were keen on getting a dog, specifically a German Shepherd, if they moved into Downing Street.
There is no news as to how Larry has greeted the new arrival (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
However, after what the Prime Minister described as “a long summer of negotiations” and “back and forth” discussions after his landslide victory in July, the family opted for a kitten.
The new kitten, which arrived on Monday, joins two other Downing Street cats: Jojo, the Starmer family’s existing pet, and Larry, who has held the title of Chief Mouser at 10 Downing Street since 2011.
There is no news about how Larry, who has built up a world-wide cult following and who has in the past clashed with Foreign Office cat Palmerston, is taking the news.
Sir Keir said: “The challenge we face, which is the same for Jojo, is that the only door out of our new flat is bomb-proof.
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his dog Dilyn (Image: SWNS)
“So fitting a cat flap is proving a little difficult.
“But our daughter has convinced us that having two cats doesn’t make the problem any bigger than having one, so we’re going ahead with getting the kitten.”
Downing Street has long been home to a variety of pets. During Rishi Sunak’s tenure, his family was joined by Nova, a Fox Red Labrador, who succeeded Dilyn, the Jack Russell adopted by Boris and Carrie Johnson.
During the Second World War, Sir Winston Churchill kept two cats, Nelson and Munich Mouser, along with a poodle named Rufus, at Downing Street.
SEE MORE :
Keir Starmer crisis as Labour accused of ‘bowing to the mob’ over Israel arms ban
Labour faces fresh criticism over the Government’s decision to suspend some arms licences to Israel (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party is facing fresh criticism over the Government’s decision to suspend some arms exports to Israel.
Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced earlier this month thatabout 30 arms licences out of around 350 would be suspended over a “clear risk” they could be used to commit a serious violation of international humanitarian law.
That decision followed a review carried out by the new government and after the previous administration concluded from its own analysis that there was no need to suspend or revoke any licences.
Mr Lammy’s decision sparked condemnation with critics claiming it had in fact nothing to do with humanitarian law and everything to do with appeasing a vocal, left-wing, pro-Hamas minority in the Labour Party.
Daniel Berke, Director for UK Lawyers for Israel, told GB News Labour is “bowing to the mob” at the expense of Israel and the protection of “Jewish rights”.
His criticism came amid a claim he had seen CCTV and drone footage shared by Israel Defence Forces (IDF) of Hamas gunmen “hijacking” trucks carrying food aid meant for civilians in Gaza.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said the decision was ‘misguided’ (Image: Getty)
Shadow Foreign Secretary Andrew Mitchell criticised the timing of the announcement as it came after the deaths of six hostages snatched by Hamas gunmen in the October 7 attacks on southern Israel.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the Labour Government’s “shameful” decision, with his office saying the “misguided” decision will only embolden Hamas.
Meanwhile, hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered on Liverpool’s waterfront earl;ier today to coincide with the start of the Labour Party conference.
That takes place against a backdrop of rising tensions in the Middle East, with Israel having declared a new phase in its war after a series of exploding devices killed at least 37 people and maimed civilians in attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon, which have been pinned on Tel Aviv.
Sir Keir’s “biggest conference ever” will see Labour face renewed pressure over the Israel-Gaza war on top of mounting unease over the Prime Minister and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer’s acceptance of lavish gifts from a wealthy donor even as millions of pensioners saw their winter fuel payment cut.
Rachel Reeves, Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner aren’t taking donations of clothing now (Image: Getty)
Sir Keir, his deputy Angela Rayner and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have said they won’t be accepting further donations of clothes in a bid to put an end to the criticism.
But the Prime Minister is also struggling to get a grip on rows inside No 10 after reports of tensions between his Chief of Staff Sue Gray and senior officials.
A leaked disclosure showed Ms Gray is paid £170,000, some £3,000 more than the Prime Minister, added to the rumours of behind-the-scenes difficulties in Downing Street.
Before the conference, Sir Keir claimed he was “completely in control” and every day the message from him to his team is they “have to deliver”.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy on Saturday defended Sir Keir, saying it was important to demonstrate the Government’s priorities are “the country’s priorities”.
